Specsavers is pumped for charity bike ride at Ankerside

THE team at the Ankerside branch of Specsavers are this week gearing up for charity cycle event in aid of Comic Relief.

This Friday from 8am, staff from the popular optical retailer will be donning their Lycra for a 100-mile static bike ride, which is the distance from the Tamworth store to the BBC studios in Manchester, where the main Comic Relief event is being televised.

A bicycle will be placed on the mall outside the store, where shoppers can cheer them on and donate to the cause. Official Comic Relief glasses for both adults and children will also be available for £2, with every penny of each sale going to the charity.

Mark Burbridge, centre manager at Ankerside, encourages shoppers to show their support for Specsavers’ Comic Relief cycle ride this Friday.

Marc Brook, store manager at Ankerside’s Specsavers store, said: “We’ve been training hard for the cycle-thon and are very much looking forward to Friday. Comic Relief is such an amazing charity that helps many people not only in the UK but also internationally and we’re really pleased to be able to help raise awareness and offer a contribution,” Marc said.

“We, of course, can’t do this without the support of Ankerside’s brilliant customers and hope that people will come down and give what they can, as every penny makes a difference,” he added. “It’s going to be a great challenge and we’re excited to be sharing it with lots shoppers.”

Mark Burbridge, centre manager at Ankerside Shopping Centre, is also looking forward to watching the bike ride. “The Specsavers team are well prepared for the cycle ride but our visitors’ support will do wonders for spurring them on.

“The people of Tamworth are always so generous with charitable donations and no doubt they’ll be no exception for Comic Relief. I wish Marc and his colleagues the very best of luck for Friday.”